BlackBerry Limited's market share in India could dwindle further from the current level of 2% with uncertainty surrounding the company’s future plans as it turns into a privately held entity following the buyout by Fairfax Financial Holdings. BlackBerry Limited has been on a decline even in India, ever since the Apple smartphones and Android operating system (OS) started dominating the market.

Even the launch of new models by BlackBerry Limited with a new OS could not prevent the decline in its market share.

IDC India senior market research analyst Manasi Yadav said that BlackBerry has been operating on a small base and it is only shrinking. “The smartphone market in India is very dynamic and BlackBerry has not been aggressive enough to make an impact,” she added.

Given the current scenario in the Indian smartphone market dominated by Samsung and other national vendors like Micromax and Karbonn, BlackBerry Limited does not figure anywhere in the top 10 list in terms of sales.

Gartner principal research analyst Anshul Gupta said, “We do not know what they are planning to do and what are their intentions.”

BlackBerry Limited is estimated to have around 10 million subscribers in India and this base is also expected to further decline as it has not been receiving positive consumer feedback. Android OS has been dominating the market with 91% share, according to IDC. Gupta said BlackBerry is faced with challenges on multiple fronts in terms of limited range of devices, lower quality of apps and general service levels.

Ovum chief telecoms analyst Jan Dawson said, “Taking BlackBerry Limited private doesn’t solve the fundamental problems at the company. First, the company’s device sales are cratering, and its announcement last week that it no longer intends to pursue the consumer market is essentially the death knell for this business.”

Some of the former executives of the company in India bemoan the fact that they have not received enough support from the headquarters despite emerging markets being the region where BlackBerry could hold onto to its market share.

However, the likely new owner of BlackBerry led by Fairfax Financial have certain long term plans for the company.